Stadium 'shrouded in secrecy'

2007-02-07 20:44

Guy Jepson

Nelspruit - The ruling African National Congress in Mpumalanga's capital has launched an unprecedented attack on the council's management for the "secretive" handling of the R920m World Cup stadium project.

The criticism, levelled at a council meeting of the Mbombela local municipality on Tuesday night, has added weight to claims that the jobs of executive mayor Justice Nsibande and municipal manager Jacob Dladla are on the line.

Mfanasibile Nkosi, the ANC's chief whip in the council, told the meeting that service delivery was being held back by poor productivity, low morale, under-spending and long delays in filling senior management posts.

Nkosi criticised the council's handling of the Mbombela stadium project, saying the bidding process had been shrouded in secrecy.

"No information is provided to the council concerning the development and construction of the 2010 stadium. The whole bidding process has been kept a secret."

The council accepted several submissions, tabled by the ANC and other parties, aimed at correcting the management and improving council oversight of the stadium project.

Nsibande's submission that Dladla be asked to devise a "turnaround strategy" and table it by February 26 was accepted, but a Democratic Alliance proposal that an independent administrator be appointed was rejected.

Construction hasn't started yet

The council reconfirmed its commitment to the success of the 2010 project, maintaining that the Mbombela Stadium would be completed on time to host World Cup matches.

Construction of the 43 500-seater stadium, which was due to begin in December, still has not started.

The council previously attributed this to delays in securing the approval of the national treasury to transfer allocated funds.

Speculation that Nsibande and Dladla might be fired grew last week when the council annulled the appointment of its 2010 project co-ordinator, Differ Mogale, saying the appointment had not been properly authorised.

Mogale 'could be redeployed'

Mogale challenged his dismissal in Johannesburg labour court and won a reprieve on Monday when the court found that the resolution annulling his appointment did not amount to termination of his employment.

The court gave the council until February 12 to investigate the appointment, saying Mogale could be redeployed to any other position in the council in the interim.

Municipality spokesperson Vusi Sibiya said on Wednesday the council respected the court's ruling, but it had requested Mogale "to stay at home" until the investigation had been finalised.

Mogale was appointed by Dladla in November at a reported annual salary of R480 000.

Nsibande is believed to have angered powerful ANC figures when he allegedly gave Mogale permission to attend a three-day soccer conference in Dubai before the appointment was approved.

- African Eye